Dean’s Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the School of Medicine

The School of Medicine announced the 2024 Dean’s Excellence Awards, recognizing faculty members and interdisciplinary teams for outstanding achievements. 

The annual awards celebrate excellence in research, clinical care, inclusion, mentoring and team excellence in clinical care. 

“This year’s awardees have distinguished themselves as inspiring innovators, collaborators and mentors,” said Susan Murin, School of Medicine Dean. “We’re grateful for their leadership and commitment to excellence.” 

2024 Dean’s Excellence Award Recipients  

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research 

Aijun Wang 

Aijun Wang is a Chancellor's Fellow and professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering. He is the vice chair for translational research, innovation and entrepreneurship for the Department of Surgery and co-director of the Center for Surgical Bioengineering.  

Wang's lab engineers and develops stem cells, gene therapies and nanomedicine, translating these technologies from the lab to clinical trials. He is co-principal investigator for the CuRe Trial — the world's first spina bifida treatment combining fetal surgery with stem cells — and is also working to develop a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In 2024, Wang was inducted into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Clinical Care 

Matthew Bobinski 

Matthew Bobinski, professor in the Department of Radiology and vice chair of clinical operations, led critical initiatives to enhance patient care, safety and access. 

Bobinski led the development of new MRI protocols for patients with non-conditional and legacy pacemakers and devices, making UC Davis one of the first hospitals in Northern California to offer this service. The new protocols ensure patients receive the best possible diagnostic imaging without unnecessary delays or risks. Bobinski also worked to secure approval for new AI modules, providing a standardized method of measurement for aneurysm management.  

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Diversity 

Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona 

Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and an associate vice chancellor of inclusive excellence. Many of Carvajal-Carmona's research grants address equity gaps in health care. His lab, supported by several large multi-center and multi-institutional grants from the National Institutes of Health, launched the Embajadoras Program, promoting health initiatives for local community health workers. 

Carvajal-Carmona launched the “Becoming a Latino Scientist” seminar series and created a model for cancer health promotion in Latino communities. He also co-led initiatives to provide free COVID-19 testing to farmworker communities in the Central Valley. 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring 

Joshua J. Fenton 

Joshua J. Fenton is a professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and a member of the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research. Fenton has played a crucial role in mentoring early and mid-career faculty to become successful UC Davis researchers. 

Fenton leads a diverse and growing team of investigators, working with faculty and staff across different departments. His leadership has resulted in numerous extramural grants, driving studies on opioid prescribing safety and overdose risks.  

Julie Schweitzer 

Julie Schweitzer is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Schweitzer’s extensive experience as a mentor — guiding postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and more than 100 undergraduate students — demonstrates her commitment to fostering meaningful professional relationships and building a strong research workforce. 

She directs the Clinical and Translational Science Center Mentoring Academy for Research Excellence and Mentored Clinical Research Training programs, supporting mentors and junior researchers in the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the School of Medicine.  

Dean’s Award for Team Excellence in Clinical Care 

Neuroprosthetics Lab Team 

The UC Davis Neuroprosthetics Lab is co-led by Sergey Stavisky and David Brandman, assistant professors in the Department of Neurological Surgery. The team develops technology to restore abilities impacted by neurological injury and disease. Recently, the team restored an ALS patient's ability to communicate — through a computer, and in his own voice.  

The team includes experts in neuroengineering, systems neuroscience, neurological surgery, machine learning, and computational neuroscience — ranging from adjunct faculty and project scientists to postdocs, Ph.D. students and research staff. 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Team Inclusion 

Heart Plus Clinic – Cardiology 

Shirin Jimenez, health services clinical professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, established UC Davis Health’s first co-management clinic for patients with heart failure related to stimulant use.  

Seeing a critical gap in health care, Jimenez advocated across the health system to secure multi-disciplinary services. Collaborating with the addiction medicine division, the Heart Plus Clinic provides comprehensive care to improve outcomes and reduce disparities.